The Houston Rockets are looking to trade for an established star, making them a potential option to trade for Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler.

Butler, 35, could become a free agent this summer if he declines his $52 million player option, making him a trade candidate for the Heat and an option for the Rockets, according to Bleacher Report writer Grant Hughes.

“Houston has an oversupply of young players who need rotation minutes and may not be able to accommodate them this season. Butler could be acquired for two or three of them in a consolidation trade. The trick would be to figure out which combination of Amen Thompson, “Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason or Cam Whitmore would be outgoing,” Hughes writes. “The Rockets should probably take Thompson, Sheppard and Smith off the table. Eason or Whitmore could still have enough appeal for the Heat (if they don't have future plans for Butler) to give Houston the veteran star they currently lack.”

The Rockets have a few players they could trade to the Heat for Butler, but parting with one of the team's young players for an aging star before they become an established playoff contender would be a wasted opportunity.

Houston needs to make sure it's ready to take a leap as a contender before trading for a star, because a deal of this magnitude only works for the Rockets if they come out of it with a championship.

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